News Release Archive

Reclamation Continues Negotiations with Delta Lands Reclamation District No. 770 for the Conveyance of Non-CVP Water in the Friant-Kern Canal

Media Contact: Pete Lucero, 916-978-5100, plucero@usbr.gov

For Release: November 23, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation will hold a negotiation session with Delta Lands Reclamation District No. 770 to continue negotiations on the terms and conditions of a 25-year contract in accordance with the Warren Act of 1911 and the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991.

The proposed contract would allow Delta Lands Reclamation District No. 770 to divert pre-1914 Water Rights floodwaters (non-Central Valley Project water) from the Kings, St. John’s and Tule Rivers into any unused capacity of the Friant-Kern Canal, as needed, over a 25-year period. The non-Central Valley Project (CVP) water, when introduced, would be conveyed to CVP contractors, non-CVP contractors and other entities that can take delivery of the non-CVP water from the Friant-Kern Canal in accordance with the negotiated contract, a 25-year license issued by Reclamation and the environmental analysis currently underway by Reclamation.

The receiving contractors and entities would be utilizing the non-CVP water for irrigation, municipal and industrial, groundwater recharge, and/or for the benefit of fish and wildlife. Uses of the non-CVP water would be limited to lands that have previously been developed and/or cultivated and have not been fallowed for three or more years. Groundwater recharge could occur on existing facilities, including existing streams, waterways and basins, and on farmland which has been cultivated within the last three years. Non-CVP water, not delivered from the Friant-Kern Canal, would be discharged into the Kern River in accordance with the parameters established by the river master on behalf of Kern River water users.

The negotiation session will be held Tuesday, November 29, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the Bureau of Reclamation, South-Central California Office, 1243 "N" Street, Fresno, CA.

The public is welcome to attend and will have the opportunity to comment. Participation instructions and all pertinent documents will be provided at the beginning of the session. For additional information, including directions to the South-Central California Area Office, please contact Valerie Curley, Contract Administration Branch Chief, at 559-487-5041 (TTY 800-735-2929), fax 559-487-5397, or e-mail vcurley@usbr.gov.

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